How To Age Well – Best Tips For Perfect Skin

There is no magic wand, whether it comes in a shape of surgery or skin care product that can completely stop aging. However, most of the skin changes occurring when we get over 40 and 50 are completely controllable and avoidable. The solution to glowing and youthful looking skin is simple – healthy lifestyle and the right skincare products.

Hydration and Balanced Diet

Dry and dehydrated skin are two entirely different conditions. Dry skin lacks oil, while dehydrated skin is in constant need of water. Both conditions can lead to wrinkles and premature aging. As we age, various physiological changes contribute to both dry and dehydrated skin. Collagen provides the skin with strength, while – with a decrease in the production of elastin – the skin loses its elasticity. The structures supporting collagen and elastin need water. Additionally, the rate of the production of hyaluronic acid decreases resulting in thinner and drier skin. The hydration of the skin is directly correlated with the amount of hyaluronic acid in the tissue.

Although you cannot combat dry skin with drinking more water than recommended (the outer layer of dry skin is damaged and cannot be repaired by adding water), you can make sure you stay hydrated in order to avoid dehydrated skin and in order to avoid the possibility of dry skin. Hydrated skin looks plumper than dehydrated skin, meaning that drinking water can help you minimize the appearance of wrinkles.

It is true – you are what you eat. Poor diet can accelerate aging. Apart from super foods, in which lies an ancient secret to beauty and vitality, you should pay attention to the balance between alkaline-forming and acid-forming foods. If you want to maintain your health, the diet should include 60% alkaline forming foods and 40% acid forming foods, while the diet consisting of 80% alkaline forming foods and 20% acid forming foods is effective for restoring health.

Lemon is the best alkaliser, so start your day with a cup of warm lemon water. Lemon is rich in vitamin C, which is responsible for the collagen production. Vitamin C is also a powerful antioxidant, fighting free radicals. Finally, lemon hydrates our body and provides it with electrolytes, crucial to anti-aging.

Physical Activity on a Weekly Basis

Better cardiovascular health is not the only benefit of regular exercises. A 2014 study led by Dr Mark Tarnopolsky, at McMaster University in Ontario, indicates that younger looking skin is a result of physical activity. The team of researchers started with mice, and then later tested their hypothesis on 29 male and female volunteers between the ages of 20 and 84.

Half of participants spent up to three hours a week doing moderate to vigorous exercises, while the rest of them were sedentary. By studying buttocks skin samples, almost never exposed to the sun, researchers came up with the pretty remarkable results. The skin of over 40-year-olds, who were physically active, looked younger. They had healthier strata cornea and thicker dermis. Additionally, the skin samples of over 65’s looked like those of 20 and 40 year-olds. The participants who were 65 and older did jogging, or cycling at a moderate pace for 30 minutes, twice a week.

Sun Protection + Anti-age Products = Youthful Skin

Most of the changes connected to skin aging are associated with sun damage. The ultraviolet rays penetrate the skin and damage elastic fibres leading to lines and wrinkles. Sun damage also contributes to liver spots. The UV rays can penetrate through glass, meaning that you should wear a sunscreen not only outdoors, but indoors, as well. Rain, or sunshine, apply a sunscreen of SPF (at least) 30 on all sun-exposed areas. Coffee berry, vitamin C, idebenone and resveratrol in sunscreens provide extra protection.

When it comes to skincare, first and foremost, read product labels and choose a product that is hypoallergenic and noncomedogenic. Select the one containing the ingredients, which are scientifically proven to be effective against skin aging. When selecting an anti-age cream, look for vitamin C, vitamin E, green tea, resveratrol, teprenone and retinol. The same applies for a face wash, a toner and an eye cream.

Choose the product formulated for your skin type. Dry skin needs ointments, balms, or thicker creams. In contrast, nonaqueous serums and gels are ideal for oily skin. You can use serums and lotions if you have normal to combined skin. However, combined skin benefits best from two different products.

Finally, there are a large number of nonsurgical procedures which can help you win in your anti-aging battle. According to Dr Rizk, chemical peels, anti-wrinkle injections and derma fillers are the best options. Which one you will choose depends on your age and the type of problem you want to target. All these nonsurgical treatments are less painful, less invasive and require less recovery time compared to surgical procedures.

Taking care of both your skin and body (inside out) is the only key to reversing the aging process. Only when you combine them can you expect the desired results.

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Nicole is a lifestyle blogger passionate about travel and healthy living. She enjoys sharing her experiences and ideas on how to lead a happy and healthy life.
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